Monday Devo
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 7
1 I come to you for protection, O Lord my God.
Save me from my persecutors—rescue me!
2 If you don’t, they will maul me like a lion,
tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3 O Lord my God, if I have done wrong
or am guilty of injustice,
4 if I have betrayed a friend
or plundered my enemy without cause,
5 then let my enemies capture me.
Let them trample me into the ground
and drag my honor in the dust.
Interlude
6 Arise, O Lord, in anger!
Stand up against the fury of my enemies!
Wake up, my God, and bring justice!
7 Gather the nations before you.
Rule over them from on high.
8 The Lord judges the nations.
Declare me righteous, O Lord,
for I am innocent, O Most High!
9 End the evil of those who are wicked,
and defend the righteous.
For you look deep within the mind and heart,
O righteous God.
10 God is my shield,
saving those whose hearts are true and right.
11 God is an honest judge.
He is angry with the wicked every day.
1 I come to you for protection, O Lord my God.
Save me from my persecutors—rescue me!
2 If you don’t, they will maul me like a lion,
tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3 O Lord my God, if I have done wrong
or am guilty of injustice,
4 if I have betrayed a friend
or plundered my enemy without cause,
5 then let my enemies capture me.
Let them trample me into the ground
and drag my honor in the dust.
Interlude
6 Arise, O Lord, in anger!
Stand up against the fury of my enemies!
Wake up, my God, and bring justice!
7 Gather the nations before you.
Rule over them from on high.
8 The Lord judges the nations.
Declare me righteous, O Lord,
for I am innocent, O Most High!
9 End the evil of those who are wicked,
and defend the righteous.
For you look deep within the mind and heart,
O righteous God.
10 God is my shield,
saving those whose hearts are true and right.
11 God is an honest judge.
He is angry with the wicked every day.
Commentary from the ESV Study Bibe:
7:1–2 Cry for Safety. In the face of desperate circumstances, the first words express trust (my God, refuge), leading to the specific request.
7:3–5 Claim of Innocence. These verses make it clear that this psalm is for those cases in which the danger stems from the malice of the persecutors, and not from the wrongdoing of the person in trouble. There is an implicit warning to those who commit the evils listed here—that they may not use this psalm to ask for God’s help in their troubles.
7:6–11 Call to God to Arise as Judge. The singers see their requests as part of the larger picture: God is a righteous judge (v. 11), to whom all the peoples of mankind, and not just Israel, are accountable (vv. 7, 8); thus his anger (v. 6) and indignation (v. 11) are directed against those who threaten his faithful ones (the righteous, v. 9; and the upright in heart, v. 10). In the Psalms, judging is more often than not a saving action, God intervening on behalf of the innocent and oppressed. (In English the word “judge” tends to focus more on condemning than on rescuing.) The particular deliverance, then, is part of God’s larger project of putting the whole world back to its right order (v. 9).
7:8 God’s justice gives hope for vindication when we are in the right. But in the matter of eternal salvation, no one is in the right except Christ alone, and in him we take refuge (Rom. 3:23–26).
7:3–5 Claim of Innocence. These verses make it clear that this psalm is for those cases in which the danger stems from the malice of the persecutors, and not from the wrongdoing of the person in trouble. There is an implicit warning to those who commit the evils listed here—that they may not use this psalm to ask for God’s help in their troubles.
7:6–11 Call to God to Arise as Judge. The singers see their requests as part of the larger picture: God is a righteous judge (v. 11), to whom all the peoples of mankind, and not just Israel, are accountable (vv. 7, 8); thus his anger (v. 6) and indignation (v. 11) are directed against those who threaten his faithful ones (the righteous, v. 9; and the upright in heart, v. 10). In the Psalms, judging is more often than not a saving action, God intervening on behalf of the innocent and oppressed. (In English the word “judge” tends to focus more on condemning than on rescuing.) The particular deliverance, then, is part of God’s larger project of putting the whole world back to its right order (v. 9).
7:8 God’s justice gives hope for vindication when we are in the right. But in the matter of eternal salvation, no one is in the right except Christ alone, and in him we take refuge (Rom. 3:23–26).
Study Questions:
- In Psalm 7 David is crying out to God and taking refuge in him. David finds safety and hope IN the righteousness of God BECAUSE of the righteousness of God. Some might think that God's righteousness and justice are reason to FEAR him, so it's interesting that David is drawn to God because of these attributes in his time of need. It's the justice and righteousness of God gives us a safe place to grow, thrive and trust in him. The righteousness of God is our shield. When you think of God being righteous and just, what emotions does it invoke? Is it fear? Safety? Something else? What is it about his righteousness and justice that might make you feel safe?
- David is asking God, "Where are you?" He's perceiving that since his enemies are going unpunished that God isn't moving. David is being honest, admitting he believes that God's unresponsiveness is due to his lack of attention to the situation. But David returns to the truth that God WILL bring justice. It's David's hope and claim that God is constantly overseeing human affairs and declaring justice every day, whether we see it or not. So, ultimately he believes his case will not slide by unnoticed but will receive the attention it deserves. Have you ever been there? Reflect on a time in your life when things were falling apart and it seemed like God wasn't paying attention. Can you see now, looking back, how he might have been working all along?
Pray:
- That you would find comfort in God's righteousness.
- That you would remember that God is always moving, even when you don't see it.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
1. Who is Jesus? I believe Jesus is God because Jesus said He is God and proved it by rising from the dead and appearing to His disciples, His brother James, 500 others at one time and Paul.
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
(Mark 3:21; John 8:58, 10:30-33, 14:9-11; Acts 9:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 1:2-3; James 1:1)
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